The Nature of Fragile Things
April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed. Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right. Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved. The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear. From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity.
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Community Reviews
Very well written. Enjoyed the character and plot development. The story was not light by any means but it was a quick read, easy to follow and not too heavy for the average book club audience. I would recommend this book for personal as well as book club readers.
The Nature of Fragile Things opens with the transcript of Sophie Whalen Hocking being interviewed by Ambrose Logan, a U.S. Marshall, on November 6, 1906. At the outset, Meissner reveals that Sophie married Martin Hocking on March 10, 1905, and reported him missing six weeks after the catastrophic April 18, 1906, San Francisco earthquake. From there, the story is related via Sophie's first-person narrative, which is interrupted occasionally by additional excerpts of the interview. The technique is highly effective, instantly pulling readers into a mystery concerning Sophie and Martin. Sophie's narration opens in March 1905 -- on the very day she arrives in San Francisco from New York City and is met at the ferry by Martin -- and proceeds in a linear fashion as the timeline gradually catches up to the date of the interview and the two time periods merge.
Sophie had never met or spoken with Martin when she agreed to move to San Francisco, marry him, and care for Kat, the little girl who has barely spoken since losing her mother, Candace. Martin offers Sophie the chance to have what she has always wanted -- a stable home and a child to love. Martin is strikingly handsome, with piercing eyes with which he seems to peer into Sophie's very soul. She has been gazing at the picture he sent her and is relieved when she disembarks from the ferry and finds him waiting for her. He indeed looks just like his picture and smiles readily when he spots her. From there, they immediately proceed to City Hall where they are married in a quick, no-frills ceremony, although Martin does grant Sophie's request that they purchase two photographs commemorating the occasion -- one for Sophie's mother back in Ireland and one to keep. They then go directly to the boarding house where Martin and Kat have been staying. There, Sophie meets Kat for the first time and the three of them continue on to the home Martin has purchased on Polk Street, a few blocks from Russian Hill. Sophie is delighted to see that it is large, comfortably furnished, and she has her own room. She made clear to Martin that the marriage would not be consummated until the two of them developed affection for each other. It was a term of their agreement to which Martin readily acceded. After all, his purpose in advertising for a wife was to provide a new mother for his daughter and be able to project the image of a successful businessman, rather than "a pathetic widower and father." Martin explained that he worked for a life insurance company and traveled extensively on business. Sophie assumed that he didn't seek out a romantic relationship because of his grief over losing Candace and desire to have "companionship and hot meals and a clean house but not romance. Not love."
Sophie settles into her new home and quickly finds herself caring deeply for Kat. While Martin travels, they occupy themselves with walks around the city and gardening, and Kat begins to speak. At first, she utters only an occasional word, just above a whisper. But as the months pass, Sophie realizes how bright and intuitive Kat is, as Kat beings to speak full sentences, and determines, with Martin's consent, to tutor her at home rather than send her to school. Sophie is gradually attracted to Martin and he does not rebuff her suggestion that they share a bed. But their physical relationship is devoid of intimacy -- Martin does not even kiss Sophie. He remains aloof and standoffish, but Sophie is steadfastly convinced that he is wounded inside. He shows no warmth or tenderness to Kat.
As much as Sophie loves Kat and is thankful to be able to mother her -- because, as she notes, she will never be able to give birth to a child -- she is troubled by Martin's secretive behavior. For instance, he keeps the drawers of his desk locked securely and when Sophie questions him, explaining that she attempted to look in the desk for a postage stamp and ink, he merely tells her to purchase whatever she needs from the stationer using the money he provides her to run the household. And one night Martin returns home and begins constructing a storage area in the boiler room, claiming that he has gone into business selling hair tonic with Candace's cousin, Belinda. He warns Sophie not to touch the bottles he stores there.
The tension and pace of the story accelerate dramatically on one fateful night when Sophie finds a pregnant woman on the doorstep. She claims to be looking for her husband, James Bigelow, who was asked by Martin to do him a favor. But James never returned so Belinda has left the inn she owns and operates in (fictional) San Rafaela and journeyed to San Francisco in search of him after finding Martin's address. When Sophie invites her in, and she sees Sophie and Martin's wedding photo, the two women break into Martin's desk . . . and form an unusual alliance that is cemented the following morning when the earthquake strikes.
Scientists estimate that the initial earthquake would have measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. It actually consisted of two shocks in quick succession, with the second being significantly stronger than the first and lasting for forty-five seconds. (Anyone who has experienced an earthquake can attest that forty-five seconds feels like a lifetime.) It was followed by numerous aftershocks. Between the initial earthquake and the resultant fires, about five square miles of San Francisco burned to the ground over the course of three days. Gas lines and water mains burst, leaving about twenty-eight thousand buildings in ruins and rendering four hundred thousand residents homeless. More than three thousand people died. Meissner conducted extensive research in an effort to portray the earthquake and its aftermath as accurately as possible. And she succeeds in conveying the terror that Sophie, Belinda, and her other characters experience, as well as their struggle to remain together and simply survive, as well as the toll it takes on little Kat.
Meissner credibly and compassionately illustrates how, armed with the truth, their circumstances bind Sophie and Belinda together, forging a friendship born of victimization and tragedy. But they refuse to remain victims. Rather, they are strong, determined women who know their own worth and are determined to be victorious. Sophie gradually reveals the secrets she has not shared with anyone, including why she left Ireland and is so adamant about keeping Kat with her, despite the obstacles she faces. Sophie, Belinda, and Kat are empathetic and likeable, and Meissner's story-telling prowess ensures that readers become fully invested in their futures.
Meissner portrays the choices her characters make -- some morally ambiguous -- and the lengths to which they go not just to survive, but to protect and secure what is theirs, and carve out the future about which they dare to dream. The story resonates emotionally, and is full of shocking twists and revelations of dark secrets that compel it forward. Through the events she depicts, Meissner examines female friendships and what cements women together as a family who, in another time and place might have been moral enemies. She shows how each woman, in her own way, adapts to the reality of her plight and place in society, and refuses to be defined or limited by either. On display throughout the story is the depth and power of a woman to love and protect a child, even one to which she did not give birth, and Meissner posits how justice should be meted out - and by whom -- making the book an excellent selection for book clubs.
Fans of historical fiction will find themselves completely engrossed in and mesmerized by The Nature of Fragile Things. It is an expertly crafted and lovingly-told homage to the human spirit, and the unbreakable bonds of a family formed by circumstances.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Sophie had never met or spoken with Martin when she agreed to move to San Francisco, marry him, and care for Kat, the little girl who has barely spoken since losing her mother, Candace. Martin offers Sophie the chance to have what she has always wanted -- a stable home and a child to love. Martin is strikingly handsome, with piercing eyes with which he seems to peer into Sophie's very soul. She has been gazing at the picture he sent her and is relieved when she disembarks from the ferry and finds him waiting for her. He indeed looks just like his picture and smiles readily when he spots her. From there, they immediately proceed to City Hall where they are married in a quick, no-frills ceremony, although Martin does grant Sophie's request that they purchase two photographs commemorating the occasion -- one for Sophie's mother back in Ireland and one to keep. They then go directly to the boarding house where Martin and Kat have been staying. There, Sophie meets Kat for the first time and the three of them continue on to the home Martin has purchased on Polk Street, a few blocks from Russian Hill. Sophie is delighted to see that it is large, comfortably furnished, and she has her own room. She made clear to Martin that the marriage would not be consummated until the two of them developed affection for each other. It was a term of their agreement to which Martin readily acceded. After all, his purpose in advertising for a wife was to provide a new mother for his daughter and be able to project the image of a successful businessman, rather than "a pathetic widower and father." Martin explained that he worked for a life insurance company and traveled extensively on business. Sophie assumed that he didn't seek out a romantic relationship because of his grief over losing Candace and desire to have "companionship and hot meals and a clean house but not romance. Not love."
Sophie settles into her new home and quickly finds herself caring deeply for Kat. While Martin travels, they occupy themselves with walks around the city and gardening, and Kat begins to speak. At first, she utters only an occasional word, just above a whisper. But as the months pass, Sophie realizes how bright and intuitive Kat is, as Kat beings to speak full sentences, and determines, with Martin's consent, to tutor her at home rather than send her to school. Sophie is gradually attracted to Martin and he does not rebuff her suggestion that they share a bed. But their physical relationship is devoid of intimacy -- Martin does not even kiss Sophie. He remains aloof and standoffish, but Sophie is steadfastly convinced that he is wounded inside. He shows no warmth or tenderness to Kat.
As much as Sophie loves Kat and is thankful to be able to mother her -- because, as she notes, she will never be able to give birth to a child -- she is troubled by Martin's secretive behavior. For instance, he keeps the drawers of his desk locked securely and when Sophie questions him, explaining that she attempted to look in the desk for a postage stamp and ink, he merely tells her to purchase whatever she needs from the stationer using the money he provides her to run the household. And one night Martin returns home and begins constructing a storage area in the boiler room, claiming that he has gone into business selling hair tonic with Candace's cousin, Belinda. He warns Sophie not to touch the bottles he stores there.
The tension and pace of the story accelerate dramatically on one fateful night when Sophie finds a pregnant woman on the doorstep. She claims to be looking for her husband, James Bigelow, who was asked by Martin to do him a favor. But James never returned so Belinda has left the inn she owns and operates in (fictional) San Rafaela and journeyed to San Francisco in search of him after finding Martin's address. When Sophie invites her in, and she sees Sophie and Martin's wedding photo, the two women break into Martin's desk . . . and form an unusual alliance that is cemented the following morning when the earthquake strikes.
Scientists estimate that the initial earthquake would have measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. It actually consisted of two shocks in quick succession, with the second being significantly stronger than the first and lasting for forty-five seconds. (Anyone who has experienced an earthquake can attest that forty-five seconds feels like a lifetime.) It was followed by numerous aftershocks. Between the initial earthquake and the resultant fires, about five square miles of San Francisco burned to the ground over the course of three days. Gas lines and water mains burst, leaving about twenty-eight thousand buildings in ruins and rendering four hundred thousand residents homeless. More than three thousand people died. Meissner conducted extensive research in an effort to portray the earthquake and its aftermath as accurately as possible. And she succeeds in conveying the terror that Sophie, Belinda, and her other characters experience, as well as their struggle to remain together and simply survive, as well as the toll it takes on little Kat.
Meissner credibly and compassionately illustrates how, armed with the truth, their circumstances bind Sophie and Belinda together, forging a friendship born of victimization and tragedy. But they refuse to remain victims. Rather, they are strong, determined women who know their own worth and are determined to be victorious. Sophie gradually reveals the secrets she has not shared with anyone, including why she left Ireland and is so adamant about keeping Kat with her, despite the obstacles she faces. Sophie, Belinda, and Kat are empathetic and likeable, and Meissner's story-telling prowess ensures that readers become fully invested in their futures.
Meissner portrays the choices her characters make -- some morally ambiguous -- and the lengths to which they go not just to survive, but to protect and secure what is theirs, and carve out the future about which they dare to dream. The story resonates emotionally, and is full of shocking twists and revelations of dark secrets that compel it forward. Through the events she depicts, Meissner examines female friendships and what cements women together as a family who, in another time and place might have been moral enemies. She shows how each woman, in her own way, adapts to the reality of her plight and place in society, and refuses to be defined or limited by either. On display throughout the story is the depth and power of a woman to love and protect a child, even one to which she did not give birth, and Meissner posits how justice should be meted out - and by whom -- making the book an excellent selection for book clubs.
Fans of historical fiction will find themselves completely engrossed in and mesmerized by The Nature of Fragile Things. It is an expertly crafted and lovingly-told homage to the human spirit, and the unbreakable bonds of a family formed by circumstances.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Loved this book! The author did a fantastic job laying out the story yet keeping you guessing about certain things. Character development was great.
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